Your Kid's Next Read With Allison Tait and Megan Daley
Episodes
Cristy Burne reads 'One Day Soon'
18 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Award-winning author Cristy Burne reads from ‘One Day Soon’, her moving middle-grade verse novel about Motor Neurone Disease.Read the show notes f...
YKNR 252: 10 minutes with Peter Carnavas
16 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Allison chats to award-winning author Peter Carnavas about his new 'classic bedtime story' 'Kid', writing quiet stories that make ...
R. A. Spratt reads 'The Epically Awesome Odyssey, as told by Nanny Piggins’
11 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Bestselling author R. A. Spratt reads from her hilarious new middle-grade novel ‘The Epically Awesome Odyssey, as told by Nanny Piggins’.00:00 Set...
YKNR 251: 10 minutes with Meg Caddy
09 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Allison chats to author Meg Caddy about their new YA historical thriller ‘A Flash In The Dust’, seeking out the unwritten stories to create a &apo...
Katrina Macdonald Roe reads 'The Stolen Child'
04 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Katrina Macdonald Roe reads from their new book 'The Stolen Child'.00:00 Settle in for Friday First Chapters01:46 Katrina Macdonald Roe read...
YKNR 250: Taking Stock, Taking Steps
02 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Allison and Megan celebrate 250 official episodes by taking stock of what’s changed since episode #1 (and what hasn’t), and Team YKNR takes steps ...
Olivia Muscat reads 'Annie And Maeve Are Definitely Not Friends’
28 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Olivia Muscat reads from her delightful middle-grade novel ‘Annie And Maeve Are Definitely Not Friends’.00:00 Settle in for Friday First Chapters0...
YKNR 249: 10 minutes with Deborah Kelly
26 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Allison chats to award-winning author Deborah Kelly about her new junior fiction series ‘Poppy & Pipsqueak’, ensuring all kids see themselves ...
Angourie Rice reads from ‘My Wonderful Disgrace’
21 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Angourie Rice reads from ‘My Wonderful Disgrace’, her darkly funny YA novel, co-authored with Kate Rice.00:00 Settle in for Friday First Chapters0...
The Skill and Will of Reading
19 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Learning HOW to read and learning to LOVE reading are two different things and both take effort. Megan and Allison explore different ways to instil th...
Jacqueline Harvey reads from ‘The Girl And The Ghost: Grand Opening’
14 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Jacqueline Harvey reads from ‘Grand Opening’, book three in her bestselling middle-grade series ‘The Girl And The Ghost’.00:00 Settle in for F...
YKNR 247: 10 Minutes with Samera Kamaleddine
12 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Allison chats to author Samera Kamaleddine about her new middle-grade novel ‘The Clueless Guide To Solving A Mystery’, the role of inter-generatio...
Brenton Cullen reads 'The Prime Minister Problem'
07 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Brenton Cullen reads from his debut middle-grade novel 'The Prime Minister Problem'.00:00 Settle in for Friday First Chapters00:00 Brenton C...
YKNR 246: Books About Music
05 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Taking inspiration from the 2026 CBCA Book Week theme ‘Symphony of Stories’, Allison and Megan take a deep dive into books about music, including ...
YKNR FFC Samera Kamaleddine reads 'The Clueless Guide to Solving a Mystery'
30 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Samera Kamaleddine reads from hew new middle-grade novel ‘The Clueless Guide To Solving A Mystery', illustrated by Hykie Breeze 00:00 Settle ...
YKNR 245: 10 minutes with Matt Stanton
28 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Bestselling author Matt Stanton is back in our interview hot seat, and Allison takes the opportunity for some updated insights on kids and reading, as...
Barry Jonsberg reads ‘Nerds vs Aliens’
23 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Barry Jonsberg reads from his new middle-grade novel ‘Nerds vs Aliens’.00:00 Settle in for Friday First Chapters01:55 Barry Jonsberg reads ‘Nerd...
YKNR 244: Can reading be too ‘comfortable’?
21 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When times are troubled, books can offer a comfortable place to escape – but what exactly is a ‘comfort read’, where do they fit in a kid’s re...
Rebecca McRitchie's 'Guinea Wigs: Fur Power!'
16 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
An extract from the audiobook edition of ‘Fur Power!’, the first book in the new Guinea Wigs junior fiction series, written by Rebecca McRitchie, ...
YKNR 243: 10 minutes with Rebecca McRitchie
14 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Allison chats to author Rebecca McRitchie about her new junior fiction series ‘Guinea Wigs’, keeping the two halves of her professional life separ...
Rhiannon Williams reads ‘The Dragon Snare’
09 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Rhiannon Williams reads the first chapter of 'The Dragon Snare', the first book in her new middle-grade fantasy series.Read the show notes f...
All About Genre Fiction
07 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Allison and Megan take a deep dive into genre fiction – what it is, why Allison loves it, and where it fits in a kid's reading journey.Read the...
YKNR 241: 10 minutes with Amelia Mellor
31 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Allison chats to award-winning, bestselling author Amelia Mellor about creating her new middle-grade series Oceanforged, making fantasy stories access...
A. L. Tait reads ‘The Last Word’
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A. L. Tait reads the first chapter of 'The Last Word', the third novel in the Two Hearts series of tween romance novels for readers 10+.00:0...
YKNR 240: 10 minutes with Lili Wilkinson
24 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Allison chats to award-winning author Lili (L.M.) Wilkinson about her Bravepaw junior fiction series, creating memorable characters and writing throug...
Jane Godwin reads ‘Will Fin Win?’
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Jane Godwin reads from her junior fiction book ‘Will Fin Win?’, illustrated by Tom Jellett, and one of four launch titles in the Your Next Read Si...
YKNR 239: 10 minutes with Tom Jellett
17 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Allison chats to Tom Jellett about his long illustrating career, the importance of surprise in books for kids, and how he approached illustrating ‘W...
Fiona Wood reads ‘The Boy and The Dog Tree’
12 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Award-winning author Fiona Wood reads from her new middle-grade novel ‘The Boy and The Dog Tree’.00:00 Settle in for Friday First Chapters02:12 Fi...
YKNR 238: Let’s Talk YA with Danielle Binks
10 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Author, literary agent and academic Danielle Binks pops in for a chat with Allison and Megan about topics and trends in Young Adult literature – and...
Tanya Hennessy reads 'Sunny and Storm'
05 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Tanya Hennessy reads from ‘Sunny and Storm’, the first book in her hilarious and heartwarming new junior fiction series, illustrated by Rachael Mc...
YKNR 237: 10 minutes with Maddy Mara
03 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It’s launch week for the Your Next Read junior fiction series and we chat to superstar author Maddy Mara about ‘The Lonely Lunch Club’, illustra...
Jayne McIntryre reads from The Feathers Of Farwood (Book 1)
26 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Jayne McIntyre reads from ‘The Feathers Of Farwood: The Gripps Curse’, the first book in her debut middle-grade fantasy trilogy.Read the show note...
YKNR 236: 10 minutes with Niraj Lal
24 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Allison chats to scientist and author Niraj Lal about his new book ‘Behind The Screens: How The Internet Works + How To Make It Work For You’, dri...
Allison Rushby reads ‘Miss Penny Dreadful and the Midnight Kittens’
19 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Allison Rushby reads from ‘Miss Penny Dreadful and the Midnight Kittens’, the first book in the Miss Penny Dreadful series for readers 8+, illustr...
YKNR 235: What makes a great picture book?
17 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In the wake of recent polls, Megan and Allison dive deep into the specifics of what makes a picture book ‘great’.Read the show notes for all book ...
YKNR 234: 10 minutes with Jol Temple and Dave Conley
10 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Allison chats to Jol Temple and David Conley about ‘Ludicrous Legends’, the first book in their new junior fiction series. Plus, Megan is dealing ...
R. A. Spratt reads ‘Romeo V Juliet’
05 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
International bestselling author R. A. Spratt reads from ‘Romeo V Juliet’, taking readers 12+ on a time-travelling Shakespearean adventure.Read th...
Let’s talk about change
03 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In the first episode back for 2026, Megan shares a big change in her life, kicking off a discussion about books about change – and managing library ...
Summer Series #9: Laura Stitzel
29 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In the final episode of our 'Meet The Creatives' Summer Series, Allison chats to author and illustrator Laura Stitzel about the importance o...
Summer Series #8: Peter Cheong
27 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 8 of our 'Meet The Creatives' Summer Series, author and illustrator Peter Cheong shares the story of how he went from the Austral...
Summer Series #7: Jess Racklyeft
20 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 7 of our 'Meet The Creatives' Summer Series, Allison chats to popular author and illustrator Jess Racklyeft about how crying got ...
Summer Series #6: Kylie Howarth
13 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 6 of our 'Meet The Creatives' Summer Series, author and illustrator Kylie Howarth shares the story of how her career started, wor...
Summer Series #5: Jasmin McGaughey
06 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 5 of our 'Meet The Creatives' Summer Series, Allison chats to author Jasmin McGaughey about switching between junior fiction and ...
Summer Series #4: Cheryl Orsini
01 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 4 of our 'Meet The Creatives' Summer Series, Allison chats to beloved illustrator Cheryl Orsini about coloured pencils, starting ...
Summer Series #3: Jade Goodwin
18 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 3 of our 'Meet The Creatives' Summer Series, Allison chats to rising star Jade Goodwin about illustrating 23 books since 2022, au...
Summer Series #2: Gus Gordon
16 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 2 of our 'Meet The Creatives' Summer Series, Allison chats to author and illustrator Gus Gordon about making beloved picture book...
Summer Series #1: Briony Stewart
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the first episode of our 'Meet The Creatives' Summer Series, Allison chats to author and illustrator Briony Stewart about how she got sta...
YKNR 232: YKNR Christmas Party
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Yes, it’s that time of year when Allison Rushby joins Allison Tait and Megan Daley to celebrate the festive season in the best way we know how – b...
YKNR 231: 10 minutes with Peter Helliar
02 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Allison chats to popular comedian and author Peter Helliar about his new junior fiction series ‘Detective Galileo’, playing with words and foundin...
YKNR 230: 10 minutes with Helen Dallimore
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Allison chats to musical theatre superstar Helen Dallimore about her debut middle-grade novel ‘The Hits and Misses of Melody Moss’, her multi-face...
YKNR 229: 10 minutes with Stuart Wilson
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Allison chats to bestselling author Stuart Wilson about ‘The Lost Book’, the second book in his 113th Assistant Librarian series, expanding a worl...
YKNR 228: 10 minutes with Katrina Nannestad
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Allison chats to award-winning author Katrina Nannestad about her three new books, creativity and meeting new characters. Read the show notes for all...
YKNR 227: Books to gift to kids who ‘don’t read’
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A book for every kid – that’s the YKNR aim this festive season. Megan and Allison make the case to gift books to every kid you know – particular...
YKNR 226: A Bookmail Blizzard
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With festive season preparations heating up, Allison and Megan are bringing you a storm of exciting bookmail titles to help you keep your gift-giving ...
YKNR 225: 10 minutes with Sarah Giddy
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Allison chats to Sarah Giddy about creating her debut illustrated middle-grade fantasy novel ‘Flight of the Drakkonbarq’, her path to publication ...
YKNR 224: Big Concepts In Kids' Books
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Books for children and young adults often tackle the big, complex ideas that make us who we are, and they do it in age-appropriate ways. But how? Mega...
YKNR 223: 10 minutes with Tim Winton
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Allison chats to bestselling, award-winning author Tim Winton about ‘Ningaloo: Australia's Wild Wonder’, his first picture book in 20 years, ...
YKNR 222: Boys and Reading
30 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Megan and Allison are joined by parenting expert Dr Justin Coulson and author Matt Stanton for a discussion about boys and reading in the face of rece...
Kate & Jol Temple read ‘Mega Rich Guinea Pigs’
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kate & Jol Temple read from ‘Mega Rich Guinea Pigs’, book one in their hilarious new illustrated series.Read the show notes for all book refer...
YKNR 221: 10 minutes with Morris Gleitzman
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Allison chats to bestselling and beloved author Morris Gleitzman about his brand-new novel ‘Childish’, potholes, and what we can do to get kids re...
Bethany Loveridge reads ‘Harper Wells Renegade Timeline Officer’
18 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bethany Loveridge reads from her debut fantasy novel ‘Harper Wells Renegade Timeline Officer’Read the show notes for all book references at yourki...
YKNR 220: Books About Feelings 2.0
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Stories that explore feelings can be a revelation for young readers and a powerful tool for the adults in their lives. Megan and Allison discuss the w...
Lora Inak reads ‘The Cockatoo Crew’
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lora Inak reads from ‘Elif’s Itchy Palm’, book one in her new junior fiction series ‘The Cockatoo Crew’, illustrated by Kruti Desai.Read the...
YKNR 219: 10 minutes with Kim Rackham
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Allison chats to debut author Kim Rackham about her delightful junior fiction verse novel ‘Hannah Backwards’. Plus Megan has two strong book recom...
Zana Fraillon reads ‘Song Of A Thousand Seas’
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Zana Fraillon reads from her new verse novel ‘Song Of A Thousand Seas’Read the show notes for all book references at yourkidsnextread.com.au Sign ...
YKNR 218: Finding books for niche topics
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When kids discover something they’re passionate about, they tend to go all in and books are a great way to support that. Megan and Allison discuss h...
Zanni L. Arnot reads 'A Guide to Falling Off the Map'
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Read the show notes for all book references at yourkidsnextread.com.au Sign up to the Your Kid's Next Read SubStack Connect with Allison, Megan a...
YKNR 217: 10 minutes with Cristy Burne
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Allison chats to author and science communicator Cristy Burne about her role in the new book ‘‘A New World Rises: Tales Of A LEGO® Future’ by J...
YKNR 216: Creating Book Clubs That Work
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Book Clubs are a great way to get (and keep) kids reading, but there are tricks to making them work – particularly for teens. Allison and Megan, alo...
Megan Daley reads ‘Raising Readers’.
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Megan Daley reads from the revised and updated edition of ‘Raising Readers How To Nurture A Child’s Love Of Books’.Read the show notes for all b...
YKNR 215: 10 minutes with Joel McKerrow
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Allison chats to Joel McKerrow about his latest middle-grade novel 'The Remarkable Robot Robbery' (Heist #2), balancing writing and speaking...
YKNR 214: Encouraging reading at home
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With the media full of reports about the decline of reading in young people, Megan and Allison look at strategies for encouraging reading at home, giv...
Helen Edwards reads ‘The Disappearing Circus’
31 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Helen Edwards reads from 'The Disappearing Circus’, a magical, mysterious new middle-grade novel, co-authored with Kate Gordon.Read the show no...
YKNR 213: 10 minutes with Gabrielle Wang
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Allison chats to award-winning author Gabrielle Wang about her magical latest novel ‘The Silken Thread’, listening to the ghosts, and writing agai...
Amelia Mellor reads ‘Oceanforged: The Wicked Ship’
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Amelia Mellor reads from ‘The Wicked Ship’’, the first book in the epic new ‘Oceanforged’ fantasy series for middle-grade readers.Read the s...
YKNR 212: Books about weddings
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Wedding fever is in the air at YKNR, which makes it the perfect time for Megan and Allison to discuss books featuring weddings for kids of all ages –...
YKNR 211: 10 minutes with R. A. Spratt
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Allison interviews bestselling author R. A. Spratt about the new Friday Barnes mystery 'In Plain Sight', her next book 'Romeo v Juliet&...
YKNR 210: Preparing For Author Visits
08 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Allison and Megan take a behind-the scenes look at creating author talks, presentations and workshops, as well as offering tips for schools and festiv...
A. L. Tait reads 'Danger Road'
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A. L. Tait reads from her contemporary middle-grade crime novel 'Danger Road', a fast-paced mystery story about two brothers who set out to ...
YKNR 209: 10 minutes with DJ Taylor
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Allison interviews DJ Taylor about her debut YA historical novel ‘Anna’s War’, looking at fact versus fiction, creating compelling characters an...
Shelby Matheson reads ‘Elsewhere’.
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Shelby Matheson reads from her middle-grade fantasy novel 'Elsewhere', featuring a mysterious school in the woods and a sentient forest that...
YKNR 208: Bookmail Bonanza
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Before they disappear under a landslide of books, Allison and Megan bring you Bookmail, the extended mix – a huge pile of new reads to add to your T...
YKNR 207: 10 minutes with Li Chen
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Allison chats to author and illustrator Li Chen about her new graphic novel 'Detective Beans: Adventures in Cat Town', creating a character ...
Pip Smith reads 'The Pull Of The Moon'
12 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Pip Smith reads from ‘The Pull Of The Moon’, her latest YA novel, which explores what happens when the urge to help collides with the unfathomable...
YKNR 206: Non-Fiction 101
10 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Megan and Allison take a deep dive into non-fiction books for kids, looking at different types of non-fiction, why reading non-fiction is important (e...
Kate Gordon reads 'The Haunting of Hindmarsh Hall'
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kate Gordon reads from ‘The Haunting of Hindmarsh Hall’, the first book in The Secret Detectives Club, a new series for middle-grade readers.Read ...
YKNR 205: 10 minutes with Julia Lawrinson
03 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Allison chats to author Julia Lawrinson about her new verse novel ‘Trapped: The Entombed Miner of Bonnie Vale’, creating suspense in the spaces be...
Kitty Black reads ‘Everglade: Rise of The Witch’
29 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kitty Black reads from ‘Everglade: Rise of The Witch’, the first book in a new and funny fantasy trilogy, illustrated by Rebecca CraneRead the sho...
YKNR 204: Wide Reading 101
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What exactly is ‘wide reading’ and how can you encourage young readers to embrace it? Megan and Allison take a deep dive into the idea of wide rea...
Jessica Townsend reads 'Silverborn'
22 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jessica Townsend reads from ‘Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow’, the fourth book in her international bestselling Nevermoor series.Read the...
YKNR 203: 10 minutes with Lucie Stevens
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Allison chats to debut author Lucie Stevens about her middle-grade fantasy novel ‘R.I.P. Nanny Tobbins’, choosing an historical setting, and findi...
YKNR 202: The enduring appeal of mystery stories
13 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Allison and Megan explore all the reasons that young readers love mystery stories, why they’re addictive, and how to find age-appropriate reads.Read...
YKNR 201: 10 minutes with Jacqueline Harvey
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Allison chats to Jacqueline Harvey about her brand-new middle-grade novel ‘The Girl and The Ghost’, meeting new characters and developing a new se...
A.L. Tait reads 'Willow Bright's Secret Plot'
01 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A.L. Tait reads from ‘Willow Bright's Secret Plot’, a new middle-grade mystery story about growing up, finding your place in the world and th...
YKNR 200: Ask Us Anything 3.0
29 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
To celebrate 200 episodes of Your Kid’s Next Read podcast, Allison and Megan are answering YOUR questions. From how to write a book to how to make l...
YKNR 199: 10 minutes with Clayton Zane Comber & Conor McCammon
22 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Allison chats to Clayton Zane Comber and Conor McCammon about their brand-new novel ‘The Marvellous Submarine’, including co-writing a book on sti...
YKNR 198: All about Funny Books
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Funny books create a LOT of discussion in the Your Kid’s Next Read community, so Megan and Allison are discussing the the role of funny books in rea...
YKNR 197: 10 minutes with Helen Edwards
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Allison chats to Dr Helen Edwards about her new middle-grade historical fiction novel ‘On Gallant Wings’, the drafting process and medals for brav...
Ashleigh Barton reads ‘How To Sail To Somewhere’
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ashleigh Barton reads from ‘How To Sail To Somewhere’, her moving new middle-grade novel, described as a 'cosy adventure' story.Read the...
YKNR 196: Building a Home Library 101
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does a home library look like? Megan and Allison explore the basics of building a home library, from why it’s important to keep books on hand, ...